Search

Systems engineering's evolutionary trajectory has been far from linear, and its future direction is uncertain. We present an assessment and vision of how SE might evolve to enduringly be impactful and relevant, despite growing complexity and radical technological change. We discuss how SE started out focused on achieving technical objectives, then drifted towards a more process and methodology focus, and is now responding to calls to return to its roots under the banner of "attaining elegant solutions to complex problems." We discuss how SE has always been a transdiscipline, although it was not always so recognized, and how SE is now increasingly recognizing and valuing its transdisciplinary nature. We present our view that the future of SE as an impactful and relevant engineering discipline lies in the strengthening of its transdisciplinarity and an increased focus on attaining elegant solutions to complex problems. We present a framework for understanding the nature of SE and the way in which it evolves in terms of its principles, methods and purposes. We show that SE is informed by, and informs many disciplines and social institutions in a dynamic ecology of discovery, achievement and vision. Lastly, we discuss the value of this framework, and show how it can serve as a basis for developing a common understanding of the value and potential of SE, and support institutions such as INCOSE as they engage in the wider social agenda of building a better and more sustainable world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the situational theory of problem solving to explicate how publics engage in conspiratorial thinking as a form of cognitive problem solving. In doing so, we develop a new typology of conspiracy theories and introduce conceptual definitions and operationalizations of conspiratorial thinking as both dispositional and situational. We conduct two survey studies which provide evidence of the measures' reliability and validity. We also investigate the debiasing effects of relational and informational strategies employed by social institutions. Finally, we present institutional behavioral strategies, grounded in the strategic behavioral theory of communication management, that can reduce conspiratorial thinking. Our new concepts and measurement approaches describe the origins and processes of public conspiracism and provide a foundation for implementing ethical and effective interventions, ultimately contributing to a more informed and educated society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the diversity of social and political assertions in the work of Vladimir M Bekhterev. Its findings reveal that he drew social and political conclusions based on his doctrine of reflexology. Moreover, he propagated the use of statistical investigations by scientific and governmental institutions to estimate the social and healthcare needs of the population. These conclusions accord with Bekhterev's desire for a transformation of society that would bring continued progress to people's social and living conditions. Additionally, the findings of this research work also support the idea that Bekhterev should be regarded as an important protagonist of neuroethics, a relatively recent field of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of low-density urbanisation has been important in documenting how diverse human settlements generated enduring social and economic change. In tropical regions, the key challenges to studying low-density urbanisation have been the difficulty in acquiring past built environment data and integrating the frameworks that illuminate the social behaviours intrinsic to urbanisation. The introduction of lidar mapping and urban science methods has proven revolutionary in our understanding of low-density urbanisation as demonstrated by emerging research on settlements and states in Mesoamerica and Southeast Asia. These studies draw on urban theory to highlight patterns in the built environment associated with profound societal changes including the rise of social institutions, agglomeration effects, and ongoing settlement growth. Here, we present an approach that combines lidar survey and archaeological fieldwork with recent developments in urban science to understand the built environment of Tongatapu; the location of an archaic state whose influence spread across the southwest Pacific Ocean between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries a.d. Quantitative results show—for the first time—that settlements on a Pacific island were urbanised in a distinct low-density form and that the processes of urbanisation began prior to state development. This study highlights the potential contribution of Pacific landscapes to urban science and the low-density settlement phenomena given the presence of large populations, hierarchical societies, and vast distributions of archaeological built remains on many island groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite interest in preindustrial markets, archaeological discussions have largely been limited to proposing methods to determine the presence or absence of market exchange in ancient societies. While these contributions are important, methodological limitations have prevented theoretical considerations of the emergence and evolution of marketplaces and market exchange in prehistory. We propose that agent-based modeling provides a window to explore physical conditions and agent behaviors that facilitate the emergence of customary exchange locations and how such locations may evolve into socially embedded institutions. The model we designed suggests that simple bartering rules among agents can generate concentrated locations of exchange and that spatial heterogeneity of resources is the most important factor in facilitating the emergence of such locales. Furthermore, partner-search behaviors and exchange of information play a key role in the institutionalization of the marketplace. The results of our simulation suggest that marketplaces can develop, even with the absence of formalized currency or central planning, as a consequence of collective strategies taken up by agents to reduce exchange partner-search costs and make transactions more frequent and predictable. The model also suggests that, once established as a social institution, marketplaces may become highly conservative and resistant to change. As such, it is inferred that bottom-up and/or top-down interventions may have often been required to establish new marketplaces or relocate marketplaces to incorporate new resources, resolve supply–demand imbalances, or minimize rising economic costs that arise as a result of social, political, and economic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to a traditional view, humans are superior to their non‐human terrestrial companions because they alone are "rational animals." Although the traditional view is presupposed by our social and legal institutions, it has been called into question by modern science: Darwin himself claimed that humans differ in degree rather than in kind from animals, and recent discoveries in comparative animal cognition have seemed to confirm Darwin's assertion. Sustaining the traditional view in light of these discoveries calls out for a careful comparison of the human mind with its precursors, the vertebrate mind and the mammalian mind. Psychological capacities shared across the animal kingdom are repurposed in humans, rendering humans uniquely capable of rationality. To be rational is to respond appropriately to value. Humans as such are not rational animals, but have the potential to become rational animals. This potential marks a morally relevant difference in kind between humans and non‐human animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a new format for the Book Review section of the Journal of Applied Christian Leadership. The section will now include a review essay, book reviews, and brief notes, expanding beyond books to cover various leadership resources such as video series, podcasts, and special journal issues. The goal is to provide library patrons with a range of resources to help shape their interaction with others and to share useful resources with Christian leaders. The article encourages readers to contribute their own review essays, book reviews, or brief notes to further enhance the section. [Extracted from the article]

To unravel the roots of the relationship between the individualism–collectivism dimension of culture (IC) and market-supporting institutions, we develop a model where the two interact and coevolve. IC and institutions are related indirectly via social organization: agents settle either in the Town, a loose organization where they work independently, or in the Clan, a cohesive organization where they engage in collective work. The town's relative economic potential positively affects the town's size and institutional quality. A larger town then renders society more individualistic, which attracts even more agents to the town and improves its institutional quality. The resulting positive feedback loop drives societies toward different steady states. If the town's relative economic potential is sufficiently high, the society converges to a steady state with a completely individualistic culture, high institutional quality, and a large town. Otherwise, the society converges to a steady state with a completely collectivistic culture, weak institutions, and a large clan. We conclude that contemporary IC and institutions exhibit path dependence and are thus related to the historical exogenous conditions in each region. Using current and historical data, we provide empirical evidence supporting our model. In addition, we apply the model to discuss the historical divergence between China and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer protection is an integral part of the current phase of the European integration project. However, eclipsed by market-building, the image of European consumers is homogeneously defined by individual economic interests against a uniform metric. This article proposes the alternative image of an "embedded consumer" to align with the imaginary of the constitutional person under primary EU law, especially the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Under the Charter, a constitutional person is fundamentally shaped and significantly enabled by their communities and thus bears "duties and responsibilities" towards the community. This obligation does not always amount to individual legal responsibility as individuals are inevitably vulnerable (when social structures lack fairness) and rely on social institutions to build up their resilience. Accordingly, the embedded consumer is also socially responsible and humanly vulnerable. This entails that a responsible consumer policy should move beyond individual responsibilisation and involve public obligations and corporate responsibilities to create a conducive framework for sustainable and responsible consumption. A responsible framework is a balanced one, on the one hand, which consciously navigates the conflicts between the various rights of the consumer as a person and between the consumer's rights and the community's interests. On the other hand, it also takes consumer vulnerability as the starting point for consumer policy. Such an "embedded consumer" is not merely futuristic but represents a transformation underway in the EU. EU consumer law and policy should be informed by the embedded consumer and the collective vision it reflects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines narratives and practices of post-conflict recovery in Bougainville and Solomon Islands respectively, with particular emphasis on the governance of justice and security. The original visions and pathways to recovery differed markedly in each case. Drawing on local strengths, including traditional leadership and customary practices of reconciliation, was integral to Bougainville's aspirations for peacebuilding and the shaping of its post-conflict social and political order. Under the auspices of a major Australian-led regional intervention, Solomon Islands followed a more conventional state building approach that made few concessions to the significance of local non-state social institutions and actors in relation to justice and security. Despite these initial divergences, recent years have seen growing areas of convergence in both places, notably around acknowledging the importance of practical hybridity between state and non-state forms of justice and security governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an intercultural modern art form, web-based ink and wash cartoons are significant tools to communicate cultural identities in the Chinese context because of their entertaining form, thought-provoking content, and profound cultural connotation. Against this background, the present study investigates the multimodal appraisal systems of 96 web-based ink and wash cartoons, focusing on attitudinal meanings and explicating how the attitudinal resources contribute to the communication of Chinese cultural identities. The analysis of 96 web-based ink and wash cartoons shows that the cultural identities of the Chinese dream, Confucianism, collectivism, and optimism are communicated through the interplay between visual and verbal semiotic resources. The analytical results reveal a series of generic features of the web-based ink and wash cartoons that contribute to the promotion of cultural identities, including the popular theme, minimalist style, positive attitude prosody, and the use of culture-specific metaphor and ideation. These features underpin the strategies for promoting Chinese cultural identities and the shift in national branding policy. The study hopes to provide clues for government, social institutions, and individuals to promote cultural identities effectively through social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI), providing care services and economic compensation to older adults with activity limitations, plays a crucial role in addressing the care needs of older adults and easing the burden on family caregivers. This article is based on the 2011–2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and uses China’s LTCI pilot program as a quasi-experiment to examine the impact of LTCI on older adults’ care patterns in China. It employs a staggered difference-in-differences (staggered DID) methodology to model the economic support, living arrangements and care, and spiritual comfort provided to older adults. Results indicate that LTCI significantly enhances the economic and emotional independence of older adults. On the one hand, LTCI effectively decreases the economic and emotional dependence of older adults on their children. On the other hand, LTCI raises the likelihood that older adults rely on social institutions and personnel for care. Additionally, LTCI is associated with achieving higher life satisfaction. Interestingly, the impact of LTCI varies significantly across sub-samples of different types of older adults and different policy regulations. Overall, findings indicate that LTCI shifts older adults’ care patterns from family to socialized care, thereby reducing children’s caregiving burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the significance of human rights education and offers valuable resources for those working in this field. The author emphasizes that human rights education goes beyond mere knowledge and involves creating an environment where students can learn and develop together, understanding the importance of dignity, freedom, and peace. The article reviews a collection of books that cover various topics, including supporting immigrant and refugee students, preparing teachers for human rights education, and promoting social justice in higher education. These resources provide a comprehensive and accessible framework for advancing human rights education and bringing about societal transformation. The article also discusses the need for more human rights educators and the inclusion of human rights education in teacher training programs. [Extracted from the article]

Louisiana Creole as a cultural identity is inextricably linked to Blackness. An understanding of Creole identity as a challenge to the racial binary imposed within Louisiana illuminates the larger legacies of colonialism, slavery, and systems of inequality within society. Creoles organised and fought against racial inequality and segregation through the collective of the Citizens' Committee forming the legal challenge of Plessy v. Ferguson. Although Louisiana Creoles have been associated with Catholicism, as St. Augustine stands as a historical site of Creole culture, spiritual practices have transcended institutionalised religions. Louisiana Creoles critiqued the institution of the Catholic Church and developed methods of resistance. Drawing upon the legacy of social clubs, Creoles used the format of these associations to further spiritual activism. Through adopting aspects of Catholicism, African traditions, and Louisiana and Creole culture, they formed belief systems and devised intersectional strategies to combat institutional racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary times, the conceptualisation of marriage has shifted; however, societal attitudes and cultural ideologies regarding its construction remain complex. As such, unique generational perspectives are needed to reflect on how marriage has evolved and to comment on ongoing tensions related to it. This study explores how individuals born in the 1960s conceptualise marriage, examining the complex interplay between traditional values and evolving perspectives. Using an exploratory qualitative design underpinned by a social constructionist epistemology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants (7 female, 5 male) aged 56–65. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) Unveiling the New Vows: The Shifting Values of Marriage and Family, (2) Breaking Boundaries and Transforming Traditions: Debunking Heteronormativity, and (3) Witnessing Progression: Dismantling Barriers and Embracing Diversity and Equality in Marriage. The findings indicate a significant shift in how marriage is viewed, with participants demonstrating both nostalgia for traditional constructs and support for more inclusive definitions. Notably, many participants positioned themselves as more progressive than their peers, challenging notions of homogenous generational attitudes. This study highlights the ongoing tension between traditional and contemporary views of marriage, suggesting that efforts to promote inclusivity must address both legal barriers and deeply ingrained cultural norms. These findings contribute to our understanding of how social institutions like marriage are reconceptualised over time, emphasising the dynamic nature of social change and the capacity for individuals to evolve in their perspectives on deeply entrenched societal norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies have explored the influence of high-speed rail (HSR) on efficiency-related outcomes. However, little attention has been paid to the issues of urban-rural income inequality in relation with HSR. Based on social exclusion theory, we suggest that HSR could enlarge urban-rural income inequality. Drawing on the methods of DID, PSM-DID, and the fixed effect model, we analyzed a panel data from 328 cities in China from 2006 to 2021, and found strong support for research hypothesis. The results show that the although HSR would be significant positive associated with urban-rural income inequality, governments can mitigate this adverse effect through effective governance. On the one hand, with the improvement of regional public transport accessibility, the positive impact of HSR on the urban-rural income inequality will be weakened; on the other hand, as the level of regional social security fiscal expenditure increases, the positive impact of HSR on the urban-rural income inequality would also be weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the disruptiveness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South, the superficial and lacklustre use of information technology has been exposed, especially in the education sector. Meanwhile, the early stages of the pandemic saw academic institutions racing up to harness digital learning solutions, including social networks, to facilitate teaching and learning. By sampling 360 students from higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ghana, a partial least square structural equation modelling, in this study, was leveraged to explore the determinants of using social networks for collaborative learning. After analysing the data, this study shows that perceived ease of use of social networks, perceived usefulness of social networks, perceived enjoyment from social network use, subjective norm, and user satisfaction were the main determinants that influence students' attitudes towards the use of social networks for collaborative learning. Additionally, the study found social networks as a useful tool for improving the academic performance of students in HEIs. We therefore envision that this study would influence policy, practice, and research on the use of social networks for teaching and learning in HEIs in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has explored the potential role of institutional quality and social inclusion in trust building. By utilizing the panel data spanning over thirty five years and for one hundred and twenty four countries of the world, we have applied Fixed Effects as well as Quintile Regression Models to explore the empirical relationship of our interest. The findings reveal that social inclusion is an important and key factor in trust building. The effects of social inclusion on trust are robust as the coefficient of social inclusion is positive and significant across all of our estimated models. Institutional quality also has positive and significant effects on trust building except at medial level of distribution of trust where it has positive but insignificant effect on trust. Income inequality has negative and significant effects whereas the effects of ethnolinguistic diversity on trust are contextual specific as these effects vary across different quintiles of trust distribution. Diversity has negative and significant effects on trust at 10th percentile and positive and significant effects at 90th percentile of trust distribution. Our findings are important for policymakers who can formulate strategies to foster inclusive environment which can be conducive to enhance trust in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Arts & Social Sciences (JASS) is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article is a review of the book "Das Wissen der Person: Eine Topographie des menschlichen Geistes" by Pirmin Stekeler-Weithofer. The book consists of essays that explore the knowledge of the person and the conditions that enable us to act and judge as individuals. It discusses concepts such as the competence-based concept of the person, the sociality of reason, and the ethics of self-perfection. The book also critiques naturalism, scientism, and instrumental rationality. While the book presents a coherent thematic arc, it falls short of fully delivering on its promise of a comprehensive understanding of the human spirit. The text also discusses the rejection of two "naturalist" dogmas regarding the concept of the person and criticizes analytic philosophy for neglecting the history of philosophy. The author argues for a sense-critical ontology that recognizes the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world. However, the text is criticized for lacking sustained arguments and relying on appeals to superior insight. Overall, the text offers new perspectives on philosophical debates and alternative views on the nature of philosophy. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines the evolution of social dialogue institutions in Lebanon and Tunisia between 2010 and 2017. Both countries faced critical junctures, but their institutions pursued divergent courses. The national social dialogue institution was revamped in Tunisia to increase participation in policymaking, whereas it was reinstated in Lebanon without addressing its institutional flaws. By building on these developments, this paper makes two theoretical contributions. First, it argues that the nature of political interference in organized labour prior to the critical juncture influences its subsequent role. Labour neutralization in Lebanon was founded on sectarian politics that co-opted national leadership and bound rank-and-file to sectarian clientelism. Labour pacification in Tunisia harmed executives, whereas local unionists remained independent. After the critical juncture, Tunisian organized labour revitalized itself, aided by rank-and-file autonomy. It then made a strategic choice to reconsolidate the tripartite system with enhanced involvement of the traditional labour and capital organizations in policymaking. Lebanese organized labour was unchallenged by its rank-and-file. It maintained ties with political elites. Second, these paths illustrate the differences between social contracts. Participation in policy elaboration is among the deliverables exchanged between political elites and social actors in Tunisia but not in Lebanon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by Aristotle and Goffman this article considers how the study of virtue acquisition may be pursued through an observational theorising about social interactions in institutions. Adapting Goffman’s and Harré’s notions of moral order and moral career, it proposes character education to be a dialogic process requiring negotiation between social actors over time. Taking part in educational institutions, learners learn to perform various roles in a manner by which virtues are to be attributed. But this is not all. Goffman’s and perhaps Aristotle’s accounts are arguably too ‘thin’ to allow for moral change, unless these processes themselves are mastered by learners and may be transcended by them. It is thus by applying the sociological imagination to the institutions we are in, the criticality necessary for true character is developed. The role of sociology in character education is therefore twofold: to inform educators in the creation of institutions and practices that transmit and manifest virtues; and, as an essential part of a virtue-ethics curriculum—giving moral agents the sensitising concepts necessary to understand, negotiate and mould the social frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye, the most important problems of the country were education and economic problems. The fact that most of the uneducated population lived in villages and that agriculture and animal husbandry, the main elements of the country's economy, were mainly conducted in rural areas created an opportunity for village institutes. The village institutes aimed to train prospective teachers as educators and well-rounded individuals who would set an example for the village community. For this reason, in addition to theoretical knowledge, students were given practical training in agriculture, animal husbandry, construction, health knowledge, carpentry, etc., based on scientific knowledge. Animal husbandry and animal food-production activities, part of this comprehensive education, were widely practiced in village institutes. In this way, both the students received a modern agricultural education, and the food resources of the institutes were provided. In this study, animal husbandry and animal food production activities in the village institutes, which were established in various regions of Türkiye and harboured an education system far beyond its period, were analysed and the aim was to provide information on this subject. In this review, we have analysed the animal husbandry and animal food production activities of the village institutes, a former educational institution in Türkiye. The ability of these institutions, which operated between 1940 and 1954, to create and sustain their resources in the face of shortages caused by World War II is noteworthy. The activities of these institutions, which are still spoken about both in their period and today, can be seen as an example for today's food and agricultural authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal husbandry was of fundamental consequence in the planning and development of larger and more permanent communities. Pastoralism is often assumed to be highly mobile when considering social institutions and political formations, despite the diversity of husbandry practices that are either wholly, or largely, tethered to relatively sedentary social aggregations. Key tenets of more settled animal husbandry are intensive social relations between people, and between people, animals, and landscapes. This entails reciprocal, multispecies cooperative efforts to decide how to utilize pastoral resources, choose where to settle, and how to organize settlements with an eye for the animals. Yet, scholars have rarely considered how the logistics and social dynamics of pastoralism shaped the transition to sedentism and, particularly, the development of collective forms of governance in prehistory. In this paper, we re-center pastoralism in narratives of settling down, in order to recognize the critical ways that relations with animals shaped how humans learned to move and dwell in emergent grazing landscapes. We take an institutional approach to the concept of "the commons," demonstrating the dynamics through 19thcentury Irish rundale, then draw on case studies from Southern Scandinavia and the Carpathian Basin to consider the commons as a multispecies institution which resulted in variable sociopolitical formations of the European Bronze Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of our knowledge of the world comes not from direct sensory experience, but from reliance on epistemic authorities: individuals or institutions that tell us what we ought to believe. For example, what most of us believe about natural selection, climate change, or the Holocaust comes from our reliance on epistemic authorities (scientists, historians). Sustaining epistemic authority depends, crucially, on social institutions that inculcate reliable second-order norms about whom to believe about what. The traditional media were crucial, in the age of mass democracy, with promulgating and sustaining such norms. The internet has obliterated the intermediaries who made that possible, and, in the process, undermined the epistemic standing of actual experts. This essay considers some possible changes to existing free speech doctrine to remedy the epistemological crisis brought about by the internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the discursive construction of what has become known as 'Female Genital Mutilation' (FGM) in colonial-era debates in the UK Houses of Parliament. The author shows how, in order to bring the topic into the realm of political legitimacy and to be heard in an institution that had only recently allowed women to stand for office, (White) women MPs emphasised their superiority to the African cultures they were talking about. They fought for inclusion as parliamentarians by re-articulating and aligning themselves with Whitely virtues, positioning themselves as noble, respectable and civilised in contrast to the 'evil', 'abhorrent' and 'barbaric' natives. By delineating the moral distance between themselves and non-White men and women, and by (re)stating female parity as the measure of civilisation, they asserted their own right to full inclusion in the nation-state, using the master's tools to trouble the master's house. Ultimately, they gained ground for feminism through the re-articulation of racism. Through historicising and deconstructing the narrative as iterated in the seat of government in colonial times, the author furthers the tentative moves towards decolonising the global campaign against FGM. The article sheds light on the coloniality in the present-day hegemonic narrative of 'Female Genital Mutilation' and questions whether there might be less harmful ways to articulate opposition to the practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study explored how information institutions can support the resilience of parents of adolescents affected by the Russia–Ukraine war. Ukrainian parents are facing major challenges of supporting their teenagers through a difficult developmental phase while also "buffering" their war-related hardships. By supporting parents, information institutions can also support children. Design/methodology/approach: Fifteen parents were interviewed about mental health challenges and resources that are helpful and/or missing from their support systems. Recordings of participant narratives were analyzed using the qualitative thematic analysis technique. Findings: The findings indicate that both teens and parents rely on internal resilience skills, family, friends and community resources to support themselves. However, a number of additional resources could be offered by information institutions, including content for (1) teens on developing skills in communication, interpersonal relationships, problem solving and academic pursuits; (2) parents on child development and opportunities in their host countries; both groups on (3) both groups on mental health first aid and safe spaces to meet peers. The study recommendations will be of interest to information professionals working with families, especially families affected by disasters. Research limitations/implications: The study relied on a small convenience sample of participants. Practical implications: Study recommendations would be of interest to information professionals who develop and provide services to families affected by natural and manmade disasters. Social implications: Study recommendations improve understanding of the (potential) role of information institutions and libraries in strengthening family and community resilience. Originality/value: The study offers a rare insight into experiences of war-affect families and provides evidence-driven recommendations for information institutions to support family and community resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the Ming-Qing period (1368–1911), examining the differences in the poverty risks of Chinese women in various social positions after their husbands or fathers had died based on historical records and archives. We argue that women's poverty risks depended not only on their family's wealth but also on their social positions, which regulated their eligibility for various income sources such as dowry, family property, and assistance from their lineage or the government. Unlike most studies, we focus on the combination of various income sources for which women were eligible, via which they evaded poverty to different degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study is Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar's work "Saatleri Ayarlama Enstitüsü" in which he realizes social criticism with an ironic style. The work consists of four parts under the titles “Great Hopes, Small Truths, Towards the Morning, Every Season Has an End” and each part is numbered and subdivided into sub-sections. In the work, in which the faulty aspects such as people, institutions or social behaviors that prevent the development of the individual or society are shown and satirized, the author makes social criticism with metaphors, and reveals the differences in the work strikingly with the choice of words and representative objects. While describing the decay in society or institutions, the author pays attention to the relationship between words, ensures that this relationship is transformed into the strongest discourse and makes the irony even stronger by making use of the contrasts between words. In the work, attention is drawn especially to the fact that the work, transactions or behaviors that are wrong within the institution or society later turn into the general acceptance of the society. In our study, after the “Introduction” section, in which information about the event, person, time and place described in each part of the work is given, the author's criticisms that draw our attention and ironically address the faulty aspects of the society in his work are given under headings. Finally, at the end of the study, there is a “Conclusion” section in which the findings obtained about the work are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although innovation is a core element of capitalist dynamics, it turns out that, to date, there is no coherent Economic Sociology of innovation, leaving the discipline oblivious to explaining fundamental economic dynamics. Nor has the enormous importance of novelty and innovation in current societal transitions evoked a corresponding research program in Economic Sociology, meaning that Economic Sociology struggles to grasp contemporary societal change. The article reviews the rather disparate diversity of approaches that could speak to a remedy, stepwise assembling and integrating them to establish the principles of an Economic Sociology approach to innovation. First, resonating with 'embeddedness' as the core paradigm of Economic Sociology, it spells out the embeddedness of innovation processes in social institutions. Next, it reviews innovation in relation to the diversity of normative, cultural‐cognitive, regulative, and relational institutions, carving out the relevance of the combination of institutions in 'fields.' It then determines 'valuation' as the overarching mechanism of how institutional frameworks interact with innovation processes. Eventually, discussing 'institutional work' as a major property of institutional frameworks, it raises awareness for the mechanisms of the 'co‐evolution' of institutions and innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The article addresses the impact of religiosity on family formation and, in the longer run, on human capital accumulation. It proposes to see religiosity as indirect but important factor in the perspective of economic development. Design/methodology/approach: Most often human capital is associated with education and health care. It is less frequently attributed to the influence of the family. The paper juxtaposes literature showing how religiosity influences family and how functioning of the family impacts human capital development with presentation of original empirical data on family attitudes and plans of young generation of Poles. Findings: (1) The article presents the results of research indicating, that (1) family is important for the creation of human capital, (2) religiosity is beneficial to the stability of the family condition. (2) On the basis of empirical survey, the article offers evidence that religiosity is a key feature differentiating young people's attitudes towards marriage, family and parenthood. Research limitations/implications: It is recommended to develop further research oriented towards examining the relationship between religiosity, family and human capital outcomes. Practical implications: On the basis of analysis presented in the article it is important - in the perspective of demographic decline and its economic consequences – to study how changes in culture (incl. religiosity) – influence family and human capital development. This is useful for designing social and demographic policies. Social implications: The article broadens knowledge of the role of religiosity for human capital development, enriching the area of research on the impact of religion and family on economy. The findings improve public opinion’ understanding of the role of religious practices and institutions in strengthening the social fabric and economic performance. Originality/value: The paper offers new proposal to link research on the role of religiosity for the condition of the family to the analysis of the influence of family on human capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the topic of ghosts and their significance in our cultural consciousness. It examines how ghosts challenge binary oppositions and represent a state between states. The article also explores the relationship between architecture and the ethereal, highlighting how architecture is intertwined with our understanding of the unknown. It argues that architecture has become overly focused on physical aspects and has lost its imaginative ambiguity in the face of technological advancements and societal changes. The article calls for a reevaluation of architectural practices to address the uncertain and indeterminate nature of emerging spaces. It discusses the concept of hauntology, which explores the spectral and paradoxical nature of ghosts, and presents various perspectives on hauntology, including discussions on conservation architecture, LiDAR scanning, erasure, and the manifestation of hidden histories. The text also explores the use of photography, X-rays, and stereoscopic imaging in capturing the spectral. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of embracing the spectral and imaginative ambiguity in architecture to address contemporary uncertainties. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Majalat Monazaat Al-Aamal is the property of Majalat Monazaat Al-Aamal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Terra: Revista de Desarrollo Local is the property of Terra: Revista de Desarrollo Local and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Service learning, an educational methodology that intertwines community service with academic instruction, is garnering growing recognition within higher education due to its potential to enrich both research and outreach efforts. By integrating service learning into the curriculum, higher education institutions (HEIs) can bridge the gap between research and praxis, effectively bringing research findings to local communities and influencing on-the-ground practices. While the benefits of service learning have been widely acknowledged in the literature, there remains a lack of understanding on how service learning can be integrated into teacher education programmes to support linguistic and cultural diversity at schools. Additionally, there is limited insight into how institutions engaged in social action perceive their collaboration with HEIs, particularly in the context of teacher education. In this contribution, we address these gaps, by presenting the results of a multimethod and multisite research study that aimed to explore the perspectives of social action initiatives on the potential collaboration with HEIs to promote (language) teacher education focused on linguistically and culturally responsive practices. The results point to a great heterogeneity of social action projects and expectations on the part of the institutions regarding collaboration with HEIs. Despite this diversity, common principles of collaboration emerge from the data. These principles lay the foundations for a framework that may shape collaborative efforts between HEIs and social action initiatives in the field of pre-service (language) teacher education with the goal of promoting pedagogies that respect and leverage linguistic and cultural diversity in multilingual settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belonging to contemporary life, correctional systems are institutions that manage a diverse category of people, aiming at the social reintegration of those who commit crimes. Globalization, which also involves adapting correctional systems to international criminal policies, involves a diversification of the human profile, both from the point of view of personal peculiarities and as a social manifestation. As part of the correctional system, the probation system manages the situation of sanctioned persons, who are at large, and provides relevant information to judicial institutions, on persons accused of committing crimes. Having social implications, addiction has become a phenomenon that affects people, their relationships, situations, ways of solving problems, and requires specialized tools to approach, to remove the causes that led to its occurrence. Combined with criminality, addiction becomes a complex factor that manifests itself strongly in society, demanding the development of optimal mechanisms for the management of both elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotechnology proponents claim that the public has a duty to trust biotechnology due to its potential for handling significant future food security challenges. This article uses Kant's moral and political philosophy as basis for constructing a framework for analyzing trust as a moral duty, both in personal relationships and in institutional settings. This includes trust in technology that is of societal significance. A discussion of key concepts of trust leads to an argument that there is a conditional duty of reflexive trust in fundamental social institutions, including technology. However, reflexive trust in, for example, food biotechnology cannot be conceived of as an individual task. A duty of reflexive trust in technology can only be achieved within a publicly controlled institution of trust-building systematic distrust. This system should ideally clarify which instances and to what extent a technology is ethically justifiable and of benefit to society in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing Post Office scandal in the UK and the 2021 Child Daycare Benefit Scandal in the Netherlands make up exemplary cases of how digital automation has changed and in fact severely harmed trust relations ranging from trust in oneself over trust in social roles, trust in institutions, trust in technology and general trust. By looking closer at how digital automation in these cases generated ruptures in the lives of ordinary citizens and also affected the involved institutions and society at large I discuss how we may begin to discuss the impact of digitalization on trust in societies. I start with an introduction to the panoramic view of trust, followed by a short description of the two scandals. Based on the exploration of the two cases I take an ex post facto perspective on the dynamic social events as they unfolded in the scandals in order to analyze how the introduction of digital automation tools affected trust relations. I draw attention to some of the most noticeable changes in the four relations of trust, which is trust in institutions, interpersonal trust, trust in oneself and trust in technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate related changes are already affecting every area of our world and will increasingly do so as global warming increases, resulting in compounding and cascading risks across multiple locations and sectors. Deliberative processes and anticipatory actions are required to adapt to the associated complex and uncertain systemic risks, with dynamic and long‐term planning needed even where there is limited knowledge of the effectiveness of adaptation. In this focus article, we examine the adaptation pathways developed for the Europe Chapter of the IPCC AR6. We argue that illustrative pathways built on quantitative and qualitative assessment of adaptation effectiveness can inform adaptation planning to manage the increasing severity of risks. We find that as the global warming level increases adaptation pathways can diverge, leading to radically different futures, for example, adaptation responses to sea level rise. We illustrate how adaptation measures for different risks interact resulting in trade‐offs, for example, increasing water scarcity. Although pathways offer a useful framework to address multiple adaptation challenges, other supporting conditions are needed for the successful implementation of adaptation, such as establishing legitimacy and buy‐in through collaboration of various actors and effective governance. Ultimately, adaptation will be increasingly more complex and constrained in a warmer world, increasing risks of losses and damages to people and nature. This article is categorized under:Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for AdaptationThe Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Decision MakingAssessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate ChangeVulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Learning from Cases and Analogies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has become an integral part of people's lives. Extant research is full of ample evidence on the impact of social media on the brand image and purchase intentions of consumers. Educational institutions have started using social media for passing information and influencing the attitudes of prospective students. There is a dearth of research on the type of content that can be used on social media to build the desired brand image as well as influence the attitude of prospective students. This study has an objective of identifying the common themes of social media content that are used by the leading IIMs, that is, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta. Additionally, another aim is to find the themes that drive maximum engagement. Data was extracted from Facebook and Instagram posts of IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta for a period of 8 months (i.e., January 2022 to August 2022). The posts were categorized on the basis of commonality and were given a common theme for analysis. Simple descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. Frequency and mean were used to identify the most popular themes and correlation was used to find the relationship between the number of posts and engagement. Text analysis was also done using word cloud. On the basis of the post content and most frequently used words on all three platforms, word cloud was built for the three institutions. It was found that the most engaging themes on Facebook were achievements, webinars, festival celebrations, public talks by experts and appreciation posts. Similarly, the most engaging themes on Instagram were university infrastructure, webinars, achievements, cultural events and festival celebrations, Furthermore, the most engaging themes on LinkedIn were farewell, inauguration, festival celebration, social events and virtual meetings. The results of this study will contribute to the extant literature on what branding themes can be used by educational institutions on social media platforms to maximize engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Social welfare scholarship has not paid adequate attention to the phenomenon of single-parent women in Asia, especially in terms of their economic and social vulnerabilities. This study aims to explore the strategies employed by women who are single parents to secure their families from socioeconomic issues. It also delves into the experiences and viewpoints of families regarding the social institutions they turn to for assistance during times of hardship – whether it be the state, market, or informal networks. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected through 33 semi-structured interviews, with informants selected using the purposive sampling technique in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, from February 2023 to July 2023. This number was obtained based on informants who were included in the criteria the researchers determined, which included "being a female single parent" and "being over the age of 17," which is the minimum age for Indonesians to marry. Others included "having dependents to support, be they children and/or the respondent's family" and occupying the main role as "household head" – all of which defined whether someone belongs to the "vulnerable group." Findings: The study highlights the significance of informal support for single mothers facing economic hardship. Still, overreliance on it can lead to concerns about the sustainability of the everyday social safety net they receive. Social exclusion is also problematic due to societal assumptions about divorce and widowhood. The last highlight is how 'deskilling' among single parents has complicated the challenges women face to re-enter the workforce. Originality/value: This study's outcomes provide crucial insights into analyzing the patterns of single-parent families in Indonesia and serve as a framework for further research on the resilience of single parents in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thorstein Veblen gave special importance to work. He claimed that once humans became tool users, their work activity was driven by an instinct of workmanship. This instinct is 'an object of attention and sentiment in its own right' beyond providing provisioning and serving another instinct, that of parental bent, or society's wellbeing. Given appropriate social institutions, 'labor might... assume that character of nobility in the eyes of society at large'. Yet, Veblen took little notice that during his lifetime between 1857 and 1929, the rapid industrialisation of the American economy massively proletarianised workers, greatly degrading their work experience. In Europe, this proletarianisation and degradation of the work process had begun centuries earlier with the rise of capitalism, and greatly accelerated with rapid industrialisation during Veblen's lifetime. Although Veblen addressed how capitalism, as the latest predatory society, exploited workers, he presented industrialisation of the work process as positive for workers. This article first surveys the process of proletarianisation, focussing on the American experience. It then explores Veblen's understanding of the impact of industrialisation on workers and how he missed a far-reaching labour-degrading process that was important in provoking massive violent insurrection, and which had earlier been addressed by political economists as diverse as Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Because he failed to recognise the degradation of the work process that accompanied industrialisation, he missed its contributing role in the explosion of conspicuous consumption by Americans of all classes, the subject of his most renowned work, The Theory of the Leisure Class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this introductory article of the special issue 'Experiencing communality and togetherness at work: Phenomenologies of a shared existence', we suggest exploring the issue of sameness and differences at stake in collective activity. In a post-pandemic world of work, a weak sense of co-presence is fostered by hyper-individualization, fragmentation, liquidity, geo-political tensions and a widespread distrust of social institutions. In this context, communality is less than ever a given. In this context, we ask the following question: How can we experience communality together in collective activity while acknowledging our often profound differences? This essay and special issue address this question by investigating how sameness can be experienced in and through difference. Specifically, we do so by focusing on commons and the process of communalization as it has been explored in Management and Organization Studies. We propose a typology in which we specify four perspectives shedding light on four experiences of communality in collective activity through and beyond differences. This typology offers a lens to present the articles selected for this special issue, as well as generating implications for research and education in Management and Organization Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I explore how granting customers this kind of direct power over gig workers' performance evaluations shapes the worker-customer interaction. I describe this system as a distinctive version of the customer-employer-worker service triangle, in which employers "launder control through customers." To understand this phenomenon, I attended driver meetings, interviewed 55 drivers across the United States, and surveyed 486 drivers. [Extracted from the article]